September 16, 2017

Widener Football Dispatches Misericordia for Second Straight Win

Photo courtesy of Widener Sports information

CHESTER, Pa. – Montrell Hicks-Taylor had eight catches for 196 yards and two touchdowns and Sean McGaughey threw for more than 300 yards as the Widener University football team won its second straight game, topping Misericordia 34-21 at Leslie C. Quick Jr. Stadium on Saturday afternoon. With the win, the Pride is now 2-1 overall and 2-0 in the MAC.

The Blue and Gold took a 14-0 lead at halftime on the strength of an 8-yard TD run from D'Andre Sapp and a 74-yard bomb from McGaughey to Hicks-Taylor to open the scoring in the contest. In the first 30 minutes, Widener held a 323-199 advantage in total yards, 246 of them coming off the arm of McGaughey.

The second half saw the Blue and Gold extend its lead, scoring twice more on a 35-yard TD reception by Hicks-Taylor and a three yard scamper by Chris Randle to go up 27-0 before the Cougars got on the board. A dazzling 34-yard run by Graham Jespersen accounted for the final Pride score before Misericordia scored twice in the final 3:30 to cement the final

FIRST QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS
The Widener defense was put in a tough spot early as Misericordia executed an onside kick on the opening play of the game. The Pride stepped up and forced a turnover on downs to take over the ball.
The Blue and Gold had one of its best sustained drives of the year to date, going 72 yards in nine plays, taking 4:13 off the clock on its opening possession, culminating in Sapp's scoring run. Randle did a large portion of the work, rushing for 34 yards on the opening offensive set.
Widener scored again in quick fashion later in the period as a four play, 87-yard drive ended in the deep touchdown to Hicks-Taylor.
For the frame, McGaughey went 6-for-6 for 119 yards. Randle rushed five times for 40 yards.SECOND QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS
McGaughey continued his hot day going 7-for-12 in the period for 127 yards. He spread the ball around to four receivers with Hicks-Taylor, James Gillespie and Joey Bristow each catching two balls while Sapp hauled in one.Joe Fox had four tackles in the second quarter.
Widener stopped Misericordia twice on fourth down.THIRD QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS
The Pride extended its lead to 21-0 as on its first offensive possession of the second half, the team marched 72 yards in six plays, capped by a 35-yard touchdown pass from McGaughey to Hicks-Taylor.
On its next drive, Widener used nearly five minutes of clock to go 75 yards in 11 plays as Randle finished off a drive in which he ran for 33 yards with a three-yard scamper to paydirt.
McGaughey went 4-for-5 for 68 yards to finish off his day before Graham Jespersen took over and threw for 31 yards, completing three of four passes.FOURTH QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS
Leading 27-7, Widener marched the ball downfield again. With the ball on the Cougars 34, Jespersen started to scramble as the pocket collapsed. Dodging defenders, he broke three tackles on his way to the end zone, pushing the lead to 34-7.
Overall in the frame, Jespersen ran for 57 yards.
Eric Smeltz caught his first career pass in the frame.BY THE NUMBERS
It was the third career 100-yard receiving game for Hicks-Taylor and the second career 300-yard passing game for McGaughey.
Widener had season highs with 220 yards on the ground and 588 total yards of offense.
Four different players caught at least four passes, led by Hicks-Taylor with eight. Bristow had five, and Gillespie and Sapp had four each.
The Pride is now 6-0 all-time against Misericordia.TWEETABLES (140 characters or less)Montrell Hicks-Taylor led @Widener_FB with 196 receiving yards and two scores as the Pride downed Misericordia RollPride GoWidenerSean McGaughey had his second career 300-yard passing game as @Widener_FB downed the Misericordia Cougars RollPride GoWidener
.@Widener_FB racked up nearly 600 yards of total offense in a 34-21 win agains Misericordia RollPride GoWidener
UP NEXT
Widener heads to Reading, Pa. for an early season MAC showdown against Albright on Saturday, Sept. 23. Kickoff from Shirk Stadium is set for 1:00 p.m.

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